A moped gang who broke into 17 mobile phone shops and caused £1m of damage is facing time in prison.
The gang of 10, aged between 19 and 24, used hammers, knives, angle grinders and a battering ram to break into Three mobile stores across east and north London, stealing phones and tablets from the stock room.
A total of 10 men, aged between 19 and 24, have been found guilty of conspiracy to burgle in relation to the raids.
On Thursday, four men were found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary at Blackfriars crown court for offences between May and November 2016. Two other gang members were found guilty of the same offence at a previous trial, and four others pleaded guilty to their part in the burglaries in August.
In three separate raids, gang members, who wore crash helmets and dark clothing during the burglaries, threatened and attacked security staff. During one robbery, a witness was threatened with a firearm.
Metropolitan police officers tracked down the gang after pursuing the men in police cars and a helicopter in October 2016 following a raid on a phone shop in Walthamstow, north London.
During the chase, one of the suspects discarded a mobile phone containing correspondence about the raids and the weapons they planned to use.
Courtney White, 23, Mominur Rahman, 22, Mohammed Hussain, 24, and Chang Mabiala, 21, were all found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary on Thursday. Mohammed Ali, 24, pleaded guilty to the same offence.
All of the defendants will be sentenced at a later date.
In August, Chris Costi, 19, and Bobby Kennedy, 22, were convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary. Alfie Kennedy, 21, and Adam Atallah, 21, pleaded guilty during the first week of the trial. Dylan Castano-Lopez, 20, pleaded guilty before the trial started.
Speaking after the convictions, Det Supt Sean Yates said: “These men are very dangerous criminals who have targeted a chain of mobile phone shops across central and east London. This case has led to dangerous individuals being taken off the streets; ultimately stopping them from committing more offences and causing serious injury to potential victims.
“We are pleased with the jury’s verdict. We are committed to relentlessly pursue those violent criminals who blight the communities they live in.”
Three mobile did not provide a comment to the Guardian when contacted.
